SureFire Bargain!

[Graham]

Well, those were two words I never thought I'd see together, especially here in Japan. But I did, today!

I'm in Osaka at the moment, on a short business trip, and was heading back to the hotel when I decided to pop in to the local store of a Japanese outdoor/diy department chain.

Anyway, walk in the ground floor, and what greets my eyes? "Stock clearance - bargain bin". And what do I see amongst the old daypacks and odds and ends? Can it be??

It was!! A Surefire M4 Devastator!!

Checked the price, and it was fully 30% less than the cheapest I have ever seen it for in Japan..(came to about US$210..)
Asked a shop assistant to open it so I could check it, put in the batteries, and bingo, worked fine.
I figured that this must be destiny, so I am now a little poorer financially, but the proud owner of an M4.
To top it off, there was an extra sheet in with it saying that the 2 lamps included are both MN61s, as the MN60 was apparently not available when it was packed (early 2001, by the look of it). Fine by me. I would have liked to have both the 225 and 350 lumen lamp, but a spare 350 is ok too..

Graham

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

...now the question is; will you get a $31.00 MN-21 500 lumen bulb for it...? and a spare..?

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ted the Led:
...now the question is; will you get a $31.00 MN-21 500 lumen bulb for it...? and a spare..?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

MN21 is for M6. MN62 is 500lum for M4

 

[Byron Walter]

Graham,

Welcome to the M4 club. Very exclusive group and very rare light. I use the 225 lumen lamp and find the M4 to be "super-fine." Mine came with the lexan lens rather than pyrex (it was specified as coming with Pyrex) but, like you, got a great price so I'm not complaining. I noticed that Arizona Gun Runners has them now for around $260 - $265 (not sure which).

Byron

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by alex cooper:
MN21 is for M6. MN62 is 500lum for M4<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
oops, thanks alex.

 

[SCOTT THE BADGER]

I only paid $180.00 for mine at www.sableco.com .

 

[Graham]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Byron Walter:
Graham,

Welcome to the M4 club. Very exclusive group and very rare light. I use the 225 lumen lamp and find the M4 to be "super-fine." Mine came with the lexan lens rather than pyrex (it was specified as coming with Pyrex) but, like you, got a great price so I'm not complaining. I noticed that Arizona Gun Runners has them now for around $260 - $265 (not sure which).

Byron<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mine has the Lexan lens too. A minor annoyance, but I'm happy to live with it considering the great deal I got. It is obviously fairly old stock, but it works fine, and is far cheaper than what I could have gotten anywhere else, even ordering from the US.

Any idea whether the lens can be replaced with Pyrex, if available from Surefire? Looking at mine, it doesn't appear to be something that is 'end-user serviceable' but I would be happy to be proved wrong..

Also, what's this about a 500lumen lamp?? I hadn't heard of that. The MN62? What is the runtime? Can't be more than 10 minutes or so, I would imagine. I guess you could only use it as a true "flash" light..

Graham

 

[txwest]

Graham,
I'll save you some money. Don't get the MN62. It's not as bright as the MN61. I don't think 4 batteries will put out enough power to produce 500 lumens. And I wouldn't get the MN60 because of it's elongated beam. It's way past oval. The ratio of width to length is about 5:1. The N2, which is a 9V lamp is a very good, bright beam. I'm told the MN16 @ 225 lumen is very good also. Haven't gotten one yet. Just get a 123 dummy to replace a battery. TX

 

[lightlover]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Graham:
Mine has the Lexan lens ... Any idea whether the lens can be replaced with Pyrex, ...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry, no.
The fixing methods for the Pyrex and the Lexan lenses are so different that you'd have to get a whole new bezel.
Only other way might be to get a Pyrex lens specially made ......

lightlover

 

[Byron Walter]

One good point about the lexan lens is that it is alleged to be user replaceable... not an option with the Pyrex. Hey, and think of all that weight it saves!

BTW... my M4 with the 225 lamp out shines my venerable Mag Charger. Too bad the prices on some SF lights have gone so far north.

Byron

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by *something ridiculous ?:
Sorry, no.
The fixing methods for the Pyrex and the Lexan lenses are so different that you'd have to get a whole new bezel.
Only other way might be to get a Pyrex lens specially made ......

lightlover

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[Graham]

Thanks for all the info. Looks like sticking with the 2 MN61s which came with my M4 is best (and economical!). I really like this light. A great 'big brother' to my E2 - incredibly bright and very compact compared to a big lantern or something.

I'm staying at a hotel on a business trip at the moment, on the 20th floor, and decided to see what the light could do last night.
I shone it out the window down onto some of the small buildings in the area - and was able to easily light up the roof of nearby buildings about 18 floors below! Not sure how many meters that is, but its pretty impressive. Didn't do it too much, last thing I want is someone calling the hotel saying some guy is shining a spotlight from one of the rooms...

Graham